SLORET
our relations with our four Commonwealth
partners in the FPDA would be caused by a hasty run-down below a level of forces carrying some degree of credibility. (iii) Malta
It is similarly arguable that our present intentions as regards Malta (ie not to renew the Agreement when it expires in 1979 and to run down gradually between 1977 and 1979) fall clearly enough within our rights under the current Military Facilities Agreement for us to tell Mintoff of them fairly soon, especially since the Americans might logically expect us to be ready to say something about Malta if we were to talk to them about
Cyprus. But we would have to be sure that if we did speak to Mintoff we had a firm proposition to put to him, clearly consistent with the provisions of the Military Facilities Agreement.
5. I recommend that the Secretary of State should send a minute to the Prime Minister on the lines of
paragraphs to above (much condensed), adding that the question of what might be said in the next few weeks to other Ministers, the Labour Party and perhaps publicly would best be considered later in the light of Ministers' further examination of Defence Review matters in the OPD in September.
I submit a draft accordingly.
SECRET